Digital Output - July 2008 - (Page 21)

ter and outside cutting, curve direction, tool diameter, material thickness, pass depth, finishing pass offset, and web thickness. By editing these simple parameters users will be able to set up complex, multi-pass cutting productions, without creating additional layers or editing curves. By utilizing these new features, i-cut users easily produce cleaner, smoother-edged graphics on virtually all materials—including acrylic, PVC, plastic, and wood,” he adds. “And we partner with most of the leading RIP manufacturers to integrate our i-script/i-cut workflow. The icut technology has opened the door for creative minds to unleash their full potential. They are no longer constrained to a rectangular box,” marvels Farka. Keeping it Simple a 20hp alternative. “It is duty rated for continuous operations for long periods of time, and is built to last with very rigid steel base frames and high end components,” remarks Ezon Auyoung, director of marketing, FlexiCAM. Available in multiple dimensions, the five- by eightfoot Stealth model starts at around $75,000, according Auyoung, who adds, “The Stealth is priced competitively for this class of machine.” FlexiCAM offers seven families of CNC routing technologies—and also manufacturers customized designs—but the S2 and Stealth families are aggressively marketed to the sign making industry. Available in a variety of dimensions, the S2 is equipped with a standard issue 7.5-hp manual spindle, which may be upgraded to 11-hp or more, and is also equipped with auto-tool changing. This solution is used for traditional sign jobs, but has some history with exotic applications, like furniture, cabinetry, doors, guitars, ice sculptures, airplane interiors, gun stocks, and kayaks, to name a few. For both the Stealth and S2 series, FlexiCAM offers the Optical Cut System (OCS). “OCS was introduced in response to the growing market of flatbed printers and the demand for an efficient solution for trimming printed parts laminated on thicker materials,” Auyoung recalls. “Because not all printers print to the exact same size, and because graphics are not always printed or mounted square to the board, a solution was required for addressing these problems.” “This OCS is highly cost effective for short run jobs,” he continues, “and for jobs when die-cutting just isn’t going to work on substrates such as aluminum or thicker wood. The system uses its optical sensors for calibration and handles all corrections for printing and mounting problems, creating a great replacement for short run die-cutting jobs.” The MGE i-cut GraphicsRouter features a three-hp spindle that runs at 18,000 RPM. FlexiCAM prides itself on manufacturing CNC routing equipment that users maintain themselves. When a FlexiCAM router is installed, customers are trained not only on how to use the device, but also on how to maintain it over the course of its lifetime. The company says only three to four hours of basic training is required to learn the router controls. To fully understand the equipment, software, and how to maintain the machine requires just a few days. FlexiCAM’s Stealth comes with a standard issue, 11hp, auto-tool changing spindle that is upgradeable to Like FlexiCAM, MultiCam LP custom can build a CNC routing solution depending on the sign shop’s space constraints, media requirements, workload, and throughput. The MultiCam MT Series models are small- to medium-sized CNC routers. These models handle hard wood, acrylic, or aluminum up to oneinch thick. MT model sizes range from 24x24 inches to 80x144 inches. Using MultiCam EZ Control, operators can easily set up job parameters and perform system tests from a remote computer system. But the company also offers off-the-shelf solutions in the form of its 1000, 3000, and 5000 Series families. Each machine is controlled by a handheld keypad that enables users to set up jobs, jog the machine, perform quality-control tests, and download jobs from remote workstations and systems. Also equipped with the MultiVision Digital Registration System, these routers come in a variety of sizes, feature automatic tool calibration, and can be equipped with Automatic Tool Change (ATC). Multi-Taskers Unless a sign shop focuses on a narrow, niche market, multi-functionality is a key requirement in any piece of equipment—print, finishing, or otherwise. A machine like KUTRITE Solutions, Inc.’s Q-KUT CNC router manages an array of media genres— acrylics, polycarbonates, plywood, Gatorfoam, aluminum composites, and more—up to 7.5 inches thick. The company designed the solution equipped with an 11-hp, high speed, liquid-cooled router spindle, which can turn at a stealthy 10,000 to 40,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). It is complemented by MGE’s i-cut system. The Q-KUT’s base price is $99,000. July 2008 Digital Output For both its Stealth and S2 series of CNC routers, FlexiCAM offers the Optical Cut System (OCS), an alternative for die-cutting short run jobs. www.digitaloutput.net 21 http://www.digitaloutput.net http://www.digitaloutput.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Digital Output - July 2008

Digital Output - July 2008

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